Isil fighters give themselves up after Taliban offensive

MORE than 150 Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (Isil) fighters surrendered to Afghan security forces after the Taliban said it had driven the rival militants from the north of the country in weeks of heavy clashes.

The Taliban said it had freed Jawzjan province from “the evil phenomenon” of Isil and locals had been “freed from its tortures”.

Thousands of civilians have fled heavy fighting between the groups as large numbers of fighters have clashed across the country in recent weeks.

The Taliban said more than 100 Isil militants had been killed in the threeweek operation.

In its wake, 152 Isil fighters surrendered from the areas of Darzab and Qush Tepa, Afghan officials said.

Mawlawi Habiburrahman, commander of Isil forces in the north, and another commander called Mufti Nematullah were among those who gave themselves up.

One Isil source confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that the group had been defeated in Jawzjan.